Fire investigators say charcoal briquettes used in gas grill caused apartment fire

An apartment fire that displaced 16 people in Colorado Tuesday has been ruled accidental.

The fire burned at the Hunting Meadows Apartments in the 4300 block of Hunting Meadows Circle, which is near S. Chelton Road and Jet Wing Drive.

Fire investigators say the fire started in a gas grill on a ground level patio. They say someone used charcoal briquettes in the grill, which led to the fire.

One person suffered minor burns and one person was treated for smoke inhalation.

12 adults, 4 people and two cats were displaced, including Nathan Siebach.

“Just heard a pop, a hissing sound,” he said. ” I just stood and watched helplessly. There wasn’t really anything else I can do.”

Siebach had just gotten home from work and was on his couch when he first heard the fire.

“It took me by surprise at first, I really didn’t think it would go as fast as it did,” he said.

He believes the fire started in a neighbor’s grill, though investigators won’t confirm that. He did disconnect a propane tank from his grill to prevent the fire from spreading faster.

He believes the complex is a total loss, the entire building was severely damaged by the flames. An adjacent building only suffered smoke damage, according to investigators.

The fire took crews hours to put out.